The 2025-26 NBA season officially gets underway on Tuesday, headlined by the defending champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder, squaring off against a revamped Houston Rockets squad. Later that night, all eyes will shift to California, where LeBron James and Luka Doncic begin their first full campaign together with the Los Angeles Lakers, facing off against the Golden State Warriors in what promises to be a blockbuster opener.
This season also ushers in a major shift off the court, as the NBA launches its highly anticipated new media rights deal, marking the league’s long-awaited return to NBC after more than two decades, while also introducing Prime Video as a fresh streaming partner.
With NBC's Peacock and Amazon's Prime Video joining the broadcast lineup, fans will soon enjoy NBA action nearly every night of the week, starting in January. Here's your go-to guide to catch all the marquee matchups from Opening Night through to the NBA Finals.
How to watch 2025-26 NBA games in local markets
Let’s start with the basics: catching your favorite NBA team's games locally is still the easiest route. If you’re in your team’s home market, most of their matchups will air on a free local station or a regional sports network (RSN), accessible through cable, satellite, or live TV streaming services. A few franchises, such as the Utah Jazz, even operate their own in-market streaming platforms, offering cord-cutters a convenient way to stay connected.
For plenty of fans, this setup will cover nearly every game, especially for teams with limited national exposure. Take the Jazz, for instance: a rebuilding side with just two national TV slots. Even the Indiana Pacers, fresh off an NBA Finals run, appear only nine times on national broadcasts.
However, if your team sits under the national spotlight — say the New York Knicks or the Oklahoma City Thunder, each boasting 34 national games — your setup will look a bit more complicated. In that case, you'll need to juggle a combination of networks and streaming platforms to catch every tip-off throughout the regular season.
Regional broadcasting NBA networks
| Team | Local TV Network | US Streaming Providers |
|---|---|---|
| Atlanta Hawks | FanDuel Sports Network Southeast | Fubo, DirecTV Stream, FanDuel+ |
| Boston Celtics | NBC Sports Boston | Fubo, DirecTV Stream, Hulu + Live TV |
| Brooklyn Nets | YES Network | Fubo, DirecTV Stream |
| Charlotte Hornets | FanDuel Sports Network Southeast | Fubo, DirecTV Stream, FanDuel+ |
| Chicago Bulls | Chicago Sports Network | Fubo, DirecTV Stream, Hulu + Live TV |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | FanDuel Sports Network Ohio | Fubo, DirecTV Stream, FanDuel+ |
| Denver Nuggets | Altitude Sports | Fubo, DirecTV Stream |
| Detroit Pistons | FanDuel Sports Network Detroit | Fubo, DirecTV Stream, FanDuel+ |
| Golden State Warriors | NBC Sports Bay Area | Fubo, DirecTV Stream, Hulu + Live TV |
| Houston Rockets | Space City Home Network | Fubo, DirecTV Stream |
| Indiana Pacers | FanDuel Sports Network Indiana | Fubo, DirecTV Stream, FanDuel+ |
| LA Clippers | FanDuel Sports Network SoCal | Fubo, DirecTV Stream, FanDuel+ |
| Los Angeles Lakers | Spectrum Sportsnet | DirecTV Stream |
| Memphis Grizzlies | FanDuel Sports Network Southeast | Fubo, DirecTV Stream, FanDuel+ |
| Miami Heat | FanDuel Sports Network Sun | Fubo, DirecTV Stream, FanDuel+ |
| Milwaukee Bucks | FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin | Fubo, DirecTV Stream, FanDuel+ |
| Minnesota Timberwolves | FanDuel Sports Network North | Fubo, DirecTV Stream, FanDuel+ |
| New Orleans Pelicans | Gulf Coast Sports & Entertainment Network | Fubo, DirecTV Stream |
| New York Knicks | MSG Network | Fubo, DirecTV Stream |
| Oklahoma City Thunder | FanDuel Sports Network Oklahoma | Fubo, DirecTV Stream, FanDuel+ |
| Orlando Magic | FanDuel Sports Network Florida | Fubo, DirecTV Stream, FanDuel+ |
| Philadelphia 76ers | NBC Sports Philadelphia | Fubo, Hulu + Live TV |
| Phoenix Suns | KTVK/Arizona's Family Sports | DirecTV Stream |
| Portland Trail Blazers | Rip City TV Network | Fubo, DirecTV Stream |
| Sacramento Kings | NBC Sports California | NBA.com |
| San Antonio Spurs | FanDuel Sports Network Southwest | Fubo, DirecTV Stream, FanDuel+ |
| Toronto Raptors | Sportsnet | Fubo, DirecTV Stream |
| Utah Jazz | KJZZ-TV | JAZZ+, DirecTV Stream (outside SLC & Utah) |
| Washington Wizards | Monumental Sports Network | Fubo, DirecTV Stream, Hulu + Live TV |
How to watch nationally-televised NBA games without cable
Here's a look at where NBA games will air national games throughout the week:
- Sunday (*): ESPN/ABC (afternoon games) & NBC/Peacock (night games)
- Monday: Peacock
- Tuesday: NBC/Peacock
- Wednesday: ESPN
- Thursday (*): Amazon Prime
- Friday: Amazon Prime & ESPN (*)
- Saturday (*): Amazon Prime (afternoon games) & ESPN/ABC (night games).
(*) : starting midseason
In the United States, NBA action can be found across several major networks — ESPN, ESPN2, ABC, NBC, and NBA TV — giving fans multiple ways to stay locked in throughout the season.
For viewers looking to cut down on expenses without missing a game, one of the best cable TV alternatives is the way to go. For those wanting an all-encompassing setup, YouTube TV, Fubo Elite with Sports Plus, and DirecTV Stream’s MySports Genre Pack all offer robust NBA coverage.
Meanwhile, Sling TV stands out as the most wallet-friendly choice, carrying ABC, NBC, ESPN, and ESPN2 under one roof — perfect for fans who don’t want to miss a single tip-off.
ESPN offers its own streaming bundle through ESPN Unlimited, which includes ESPN Select and every ESPN channel. Over on the NBC side, live NBA games are simulcast through Peacock, where viewers will need at least the Premium plan (starting at $10.99 per month or $109.99 annually) to access live sports like the NFL and Premier League.
Amazon Prime Video has also joined the mix, hosting select Thursday, Friday, and Saturday matchups, along with special events such as the NBA Cup knockout rounds and international fixtures in Berlin and London.
Let's take a deeper dive into each of NBA's three broadcast partners and their game schedules.
NBC and Peacock: Sundays, Mondays and Tuesdays
- Price: $10.99–$16.99/mo.
- NBA content: Exclusive Monday night games and all NBC simulcasts
- Features: All NBA on NBC coverage; extensive on-demand content library
The biggest selling point for a Peacock Premium subscription this NBA season is clear, exclusive Monday night basketball. NBC's streaming platform has secured rights to host those primetime matchups, while once the NFL season wraps up, fans can look forward to "Sunday Night Basketball" airing on both NBC and Peacock.
The first Sunday broadcast is set for February 1, before taking a short hiatus for Super Bowl LX on February 8, followed by the NBA All-Star Game and the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics on February 15. NBC's Sunday night NBA coverage will pick up again on February 22.
NBC's regular-season coverage kicks off October 21, featuring the Rockets vs. Thunder showdown, followed by a heavyweight clash between the Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Lakers. After that, NBC and Peacock will roll out "Coast 2 Coast Tuesday" every week through April 7, ensuring fans get their fill of marquee matchups on a consistent basis.
Adding even more spice to the calendar, NBC will air an NBA Cup group-stage doubleheader on November 25, highlighted by the Philadelphia 76ers hosting the Orlando Magic and the Los Angeles Clippers squaring off against the Lakers.
In the 2025–26 season, every NBA game broadcast on NBC will also be streamed live on Peacock, giving fans another easy way to catch all the action. However, similar to Prime Video, Peacock's streaming exclusivity can be a double-edged sword — convenient for some, restrictive for others.
On the bright side, there’s a big bonus for certain local fanbases. Supporters of the Boston Celtics, Golden State Warriors, Philadelphia 76ers, and Sacramento Kings can subscribe to their NBC Sports regional networks directly through Peacock. For fans living in those markets, it’s a game-changer — providing a one-stop hub for nearly all their basketball viewing under a single app.
ESPN: Wednesdays and Fridays, ABC: Saturdays and Sundays
ESPN and ABC will stick to their familiar NBA broadcast format from the previous rights deal. ESPN continues to air games on Wednesday and Friday nights, while ABC takes charge of Saturday primetime and Sunday afternoon matchups.
The network's Thanksgiving Eve triple-header on Nov. 26 headlines early-season coverage, starting with Boston Celtics vs. Detroit Pistons (5 pm ET), followed by Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (7:30 pm ET) and wrapping up with Golden State Warriors vs. Houston Rockets (10 pm ET).
ESPN offers its own streaming bundle through ESPN Unlimited, which includes ESPN Select and every ESPN channel. The standalone price is $29.99 per month or $299.99 per year, but a limited-time offer lets users bundle it with Disney+ and Hulu for the same $29.99 monthly rate for the first 12 months — a slam dunk for sports and entertainment fans alike.
ABC’s Saturday slate, branded as NBA Primetime Saturday on ABC, tips off Jan. 24 with a triple-header — Knicks vs. 76ers (3 pm ET), Warriors vs. Timberwolves (5:30 pm ET), and Lakers vs. Mavericks (8:30 pm ET) — continuing weekly through March 14.
Meanwhile, NBA Sunday Showcase on ABC begins Feb. 8 with Knicks vs. Celtics (12:30 pm ET) and features three straight weeks of doubleheaders, before closing with a single broadcast on March 15.Prime Video NBA coverage takes the court on Fridays
- Price: $8.99–$17.98/mo.
- NBA content: Every NBA on Prime matchup, plus studio shows and analysis
- Features: Exclusive live sports; vast content library and add-on options
What truly elevates the NBA viewing experience on Prime is its innovative broadcast tools, including Multiview for watching multiple angles, Key Moments for instant replays of major highlights, and Rapid Recap, which lets late joiners quickly catch up on the action.
The main drawback is exclusivity, these games stream only on Prime Video, leaving traditional cable and satellite users without access unless they have strong internet service. However, Prime makes up for it with its flexible bundling options, allowing subscribers to add NBA League Pass, Peacock Premium Plus, or FanDuel Sports Network directly through Amazon. Between matchups, fans can also dive into Prime's expansive catalog of films and TV series, making it a versatile choice beyond just basketball.
How to watch NBA games on Fubo (Best overall sports streamer)
Subscribers can watch Tuesday games via their local NBC affiliate, Wednesday matchups on ESPN, Saturday showdowns on ABC and ESPN, and Sunday contests on NBC and ABC. Fans can also enhance their package by adding NBA League Pass, and a free trial is available for those who want to test the service first.
Fubo's coverage extends to nearly every Regional Sports Network (RSN), offering local broadcasts based on a viewer’s location. These include FanDuel Sports Network, Altitude Sports, Marquee Sports Network, MASN, NBC Sports, SportsNet Pittsburgh, NESN, CHSN, MSG Network, and Rangers Sports Network, ensuring fans never miss their hometown team in action.
How to watch NBA games on DirecTV Stream
provides a solid lineup of channels to keep fans tuned into the 2025 NBA season. Viewers can catch Tuesday games on their local NBC affiliate, Wednesday matchups on ESPN, and Saturday and Sunday showdowns on ABC, NBC, and ESPN.Currently, DirecTV is offering a special introductory price, just $49.99 ($59.99 with fees) for the first month, down from the usual $94.99/month. Subscribers can also add NBA League Pass for full-season coverage and enjoy the revamped ESPN app’s unlimited streaming package at no extra cost, plus unlimited cloud DVR storage.
With a five-day free trial available, DirecTV makes it easy for basketball fans to test the waters before committing to a long-term plan — an ideal starting point for those exploring live TV streaming this NBA season.
How to watch NBA games on Sling
The Sling Blue package provides access to local affiliates like ABC, NBC, and FOX (though availability depends on the market), while Sling Orange delivers both ESPN and ESPN2.
Each plan starts at $46 per month, but combining them for $66 monthly gives fans the full lineup. As a bonus, new subscribers get 50% off their first month with either Blue or the combined Orange & Blue plan. To complete the setup, NBA TV can be added through the Sports Extra add-on for an additional $11 per month.
How to watch NBA games for free via OTA antenna
There are a handful of ways to catch NBA action without paying a dime — the most common being free trial offers from streaming platforms such as DIRECTV Stream, Fubo, and YouTube TV. These trials typically last a week, giving you temporary access to live games.
However, the most consistent long-term free option is going old-school with an over-the-air (OTA) antenna. With NBA games airing on ABC and NBC throughout the season — including full coverage of the NBA Finals — an antenna lets you watch live broadcasts as long as you’re within range of your local network stations.
Sure, it’s not completely free upfront, but once you buy an antenna, that one-time investment pays off quickly. You’ll have years of access to live sports, from NBA matchups to college hoops on CBS, all without a monthly bill.How to watch an out-of-market NBA team
Pros
- Home and away commentary options
- Full replays of every NBA matchup
- Live, in-game stats available on select devices
Cons
- No access to live local or nationally televised games
- Blacked-out games only available for replay after a delay
NBA League Pass has long been a go-to service for die-hard basketball fans — especially those living outside their favorite team's market or those who simply want to stay tuned to every storyline across the league. However, under the NBA’s new media agreement, the package is no longer offered as an add-on through most live TV streaming platforms. Instead, subscribers must sign up directly via NBA.com or through Amazon Prime Video Channels. Thankfully, traditional cable and satellite customers can still tack it onto their existing plans.
The biggest perk of League Pass is the ability to watch every out-of-market game live. That said, the service doesn’t cover nationally televised broadcasts, including the NBA Playoffs. Fans can still catch those games on-demand — but only three hours after they’ve aired, which can feel like an eternity in today’s instant-viewing culture.
On supported devices like Google Chrome browsers, League Pass even provides real-time stats alongside the broadcast, adding an analytical layer to the viewing experience. Pricing starts at $16.99 per month, a far more budget-friendly rate compared to other out-of-market packages like MLB.TV ($29.99/month) or NFL Sunday Ticket ($378 per season for returning YouTube TV users).
Those who prefer an ad-free experience can upgrade to NBA League Pass Premium for $24.99 monthly, while the Team Pass option — priced at $13.99 per month — lets subscribers follow one specific team all season long.